In the 13-year period of 2005 through 2017, canines killed 433 Americans. Pit bulls contributed to 66% (284) of these deaths. Combined, pit bulls and rottweilers contributed to 76% of the total recorded deaths. | More »

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Mendocino Pot Dogs (Pit Bulls) Killing More Horses and Goats

Authorities Issue Alert Laytonville, CA - Mendocino County authorities issued an alert warning residents that two pot dogs (pit bulls) are believed to have killed two miniature horses and attacked some pygmy goats. In an earlier post, we wrote about the medical marijuana pot gardens in Mendocino County and the large number of stray pit bulls that are likely the result of these facilities. Authorities believe that after the annual harvest, growers set the "crop guarding" canines loose.

Sergeant Kevin Cotroneo said the corpses of the small horses were found early Saturday at the home of Gary Futer. Two dogs, one medium sized and one smaller, were seen in the area but because it was dark a good description wasn’t possible. A black and white pit bull with blood on it was seen later in the area; it disappeared without being caught. Deputies have also heard reports of a resident recently losing several pygmy goats in similar circumstances.

In other news:

LaPorte County Horse Killed By Pit Bull Laporte County, IN - Sadly, Indiana is back in the news regarding pit bull attacks. A horse was reportedly killed over the weekend by pit bulls in a bloody attack inside a barn near LaCrosse. Mike Catalano, 35, said he grew up with the horse named Abby and so did his children, who are devastated by the cruel death. Catalano went out to his barn to feed the animals Saturday morning and discovered the 32-year-old horse dead from the grisly overnight attack.

The floor and walls of the barn were splattered with blood.

Catalano said the two pit bulls grabbed the horse by her face then mutilated her. Another horse and a miniature donkey kept in the barn luckily managed to escape. Catalano said there were two sets of tracks heading toward and away from his barn. There was also blood drippings in the paw prints followed to a residence a few hundred feet away. A pit bull covered in dried blood was taken from that home but a second dog was not located.

Jane Bernard, the LaPorte County Animal Control director, said the seized dog will not be available for adoption or returned to the owner. Authorities continue to investigate whether a second dog was involved.

Battle Creek Police Seek Pit Bull in Pony Attack Battle Creek, MI - Police are still searching for a dog, which fatally attacked a pony last week. Lt. Duane Knight said officers are looking for a brown dog, which may be a pit bull, after the February 17 attack. The pony had to be destroyed after the attack due to its injuries. Police believe the dog may have been one of three dumped near Waubascon Road a couple of months ago. One of the three was shot by police and a second was captured and euthanized.

There is something very special about a horse that is kept for a lifetime by the same owner. Mike Catalano had his 32 year old horse since he was a child. The horse has always been part of the family for his children. This special horse should have been allowed a respectful and loving end of life, not the horror of this death. This breaks my heart.

What’s worse is that she’s a pit bull apologist…guess she has never Googled “pit bull horse attack,” where she would learn that many times, it is a single pit bull that attacks and brutally mauls a horse or pony to death. No pack mentality needed for a pit bull to attack large animals (bull-baiting anyone?)

This absolutely breaks my heart. I think we should all inundate that AC with letters of outrage and disgust, and include photos of attack victims, and copies of every horse and pony attack article. Enough!

Gee, looks like a lot more pot dogs are on the way——Could marijuana be the answer to the economic misery facing California? Democratic State Assembly member Tom Ammiano thinks so. Ammiano introduced legislation last month that would legalize pot and allow the state to regulate and tax its sale – a move that could mean billions for the cash-strapped state. Pot is, after all, California’s biggest cash crop, responsible for $14 billion in annual sales, dwarfing the state’s second largest agricultural commodity – milk and cream – which brings in $7.3 billion annually, according to the most recent USDA statistics. The state’s tax collectors estimate the bill would bring in about $1.3 billion in much-needed revenue a year, offsetting some of the billions in service cuts and spending reductions outlined in the recently approved state budget.